Speaking to reporters at Incheon International Airport before departing for Canada, Kim said Seoul is working “with everything it has” to secure the entire fleet of 12 diesel-electric submarines under Canada’s Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP).
“Without prejudging whether things are going well or not, we are doing everything we can,” Kim said. “Twelve is a symbolic number for us.”
Kim cited the famous line from Joseon naval commander Admiral Yi Sun-sin — “I still have 12 ships” — a rallying cry during the 16th-century Japanese invasions of Korea, adding that South Korea would strive to achieve a similar “12-ship miracle” in the Canadian submarine competition.
His comments come as Canadian media reported that the government of Prime Minister Mark Carney is considering splitting the multibillion-dollar contract between the two finalists — buying six submarines each from South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean consortium and Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS).
The CPSP aims to acquire up to 12 diesel-electric submarines to replace Canada’s aging Victoria-class fleet, which is expected to retire by the mid-2030s.
Under the reported split scenario, Germany’s Type-212CD submarines would patrol the Atlantic, while South Korea’s KSS-III Batch-II submarines would be deployed on the Pacific coast and potentially in the Indo-Pacific region.
Defense experts have warned that operating two different submarine classes could complicate supply chains, training and maintenance. Carney himself previously expressed skepticism about a mixed fleet, saying a single-class fleet offers “overwhelming” efficiency advantages.
Still, Ottawa is also weighing the broader economic benefits of the procurement as it seeks to diversify trade ties with Europe and Asia amid rising economic friction with the United States.
Both bidders have emphasized industrial cooperation and job creation in Canada. Hanwha has projected that its proposal could generate roughly 25,000 Canadian jobs annually between 2026 and 2044, while TKMS has signaled it could build some submarines in Canada.
Kim said the scale of industrial cooperation would inevitably differ depending on whether Seoul wins all 12 submarines or only part of the order.
“The scale of cooperation will naturally differ between 12 and six submarines,” he said. “Ultimately, it depends entirely on the decision of the Canadian government.”
Kim is visiting Windsor, Ontario, for the completion ceremony of an LG Energy Solution battery plant and plans to meet Canadian officials, including Industry Minister Mélanie Joly, to promote South Korea’s shipbuilding capabilities and industrial partnership proposals.
Canada’s government is expected to review the final bids submitted this week before making a decision as early as June, with the contract targeted to be awarded before the end of the year.
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